Archives: Off Campus
David Gregory talks to students – and me
Okay, not me personally, but I was in the audience in the AG when David Gregory spoke to the students prior to his Dively lecture at Lynn. In the course of my career, I have had the opportunity to meet and greet and hear many “name” speakers (the “wall of fame” in my office is testament to that). They always seem larger than life, and in David Gregory’s case, that is literally true. He’s a tall, lanky and very friendly-looking man, with an affable personality to match. I detected no “star” or diva-like tendencies during his time talking to the students, rather just the opposite. He was very engaging, open and real. So, here are a few of my notes from that session:
• On the current journalism scene: He was amazingly blunt when answering the question from a student about the job market in that field. “Bad,” he said. Local news has plummeted, but he said “the walls have been broken down on the production side” (describing an intern using a flip camera to capture a story), allowing for more outlets and opportunities.
• On social media: He realized he needed to reach out to a younger audience, and clearly understands and embraces today’s communication tools, with 1,388,481 Twitter followers (but who’s counting?). He recognizes that Twitter is part of the universe, but it isn’t the universe.
• On a college education: Today’s students expect information to find them. He talked about the importance of a strong liberal education, the need to be well read, write well and be a good critical thinker – even if you don’t know what you want to be (which he did since the tender age of 15). Great advice, I thought.
• On his career: The job of journalist seemed exciting, he was naturally curious and wanted to be a participant; never wavered from his ambition. He’s been at NBC since the 1990s; covered the White House and his first presidential election (2000) during which he remembers “lots of partying including disco balls and margaritas on the plane.” He describes his job as moderator of Meet the Press as the best he ever had, but a very difficult and challenging one – “a real gift.” He said preparing for interviews is rigorous; you want to make news; get people “in the moment;” and he identified Hilary Clinton as his best AND worst interviewee.
If you were at the student session or the actual Dively lecture, feel free to share your impressions here.
Over the Intracoastal and through A1A …
You know the song, just a Boca Raton take on the classic “Over the River and Through the Woods.” We’ve got some time off coming up for the Thanksgiving holiday, so I’m taking an informal poll here. Where are you going for the holiday? Will you stay close to home, or venture to far away destinations via planes, trains or automobiles?
And what about you international students – will you take the opportunity to go home or stay here with the hopes of being invited to a real as-American-as-apple-pie Thanksgiving feast? Our grad assistant is from England and told us he really appreciated an invite when he was in town for Thanksgiving. So now is a good a time as any to reach out and extend an invite. Just a thought … Anyway, are you staying put or are you traveling? And if you’re leaving on a jet plane, or other mode of transportatin, where are you headed? Inquiring minds want to know.
What’s your favorite Thanksgiving recipe?
The first Thanksgiving took place in Plymouth Colony, in what is present-day Massachusetts, in 1621. More than 200 years later, President Abraham Lincoln declared the final Thursday in November as a national day of thanksgiving.
So, Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful, we know, but we also know that it is really all about eating (and watching football).
So to honor our forefathers, let’s talk turkey! Everyone has a favorite recipe handed down through the generations.
What is your favorite, or unusual or mouth-watering, not-to-be-believed recipe – the one that keeps ‘em coming back for more?
It’s Phillies vs. Yankees – even at Lynn
For those of you living under a rock – or who maybe just don’t care – the World Series has begun. It’s the battle of the Phillies vs. the Yankees, a big Northeastern rivalry (score one for the Phillies).
I saw these 2 students walking together in the Assaf courtyard today, each sporting his team hat. Mike Deluca (Philly fan) and Matt Dumoulin (Yankee fan) are buddies and neighbors and have a friendly rivalry, but draw the line when it comes to watching the games. Both go off to watch with their fellow fans and say they don’t care where they watch as long as there’s a big screen TV.
Fans and even non-fans seem to have a love/hate relationship with one or both of these teams. So, I’ll admit my team preference here and say: Go Phillies! Can they do it a second year in a row? What do you think? I’ve gotten several high fives from fellow Philly fans here at Lynn. So, come on … fess up, who are you rooting for?
Brrrrrrr… baby it’s cold outside – and in
Well, finally … the 90-degree heat wave has broken. I heard on the Weather Channel (one of my favorite stations) that we had more than 15 days in a row of temperatures in the upper 90s, making it an unusually hot October, not to mention the heat and humidity of the last 6 months. So, temperatures over the weekend plummeted to the mid 50s at night. That may not sound like frigid air to the average, hearty Midwesterner, but to us, it’s plenty cold: cause for celebration for some (open the windows, break out those flannel shirts!) and chattering teeth for others.
I guess it takes awhile for our buildings on campus to catch up to this sudden seasonal temperature change, cause the a/c is still cranking away. In our staff meeting today, it was interesting to note the various forms of winter dress – sweaters, scarves, closed-toe shoes, and my favorite (below). Love the look!
So, is it cold enough for you – outside and/or in?
Look what the Internet “killed”
London’s Telegraph newspaper recently took a look at the way we work, play and even think; and in the process came up with a list of 10 traditions the Internet has “killed.” Very interesting …
Here are some (the snide comments are mine): letter writing (an obvious one, what with e-mail and all); telephone directories (you know that big, fat book with the teeny, tiny print?); music stores (can you say download?); photo albums (the kind where you take the printed photos and put them in between the clear, sticky sheets); newspapers (I’ve already said enough about that one); memory (who needs to remember anything when you can Google); and my favorite … doing nothing (even when walking down the street, people are checking iPhones, texting, etc.; it’s hard to “stop and smell the roses” when you do that)
Since this topic was right up my alley (being the “back in the day” girl and all), I thought up some others … encyclopedias and library card catalogues (have all but gone away with the advent of Google); video stores (not when you don’t have to leave home to get a video – or more importantly bring it back); bills (paying online means never having to hunt around for a stamp); shopping (again, you don’t have to leave the house with Amazon, eBay and dozens of other online sources available); sending greeting cards (have you seen the prices of one lousy, little card lately – $3.99!); the post office (just recently in the news about all the closings, since clearly nobody is sending those obsolete letters or bills through snail mail anymore); getting directions (that’s what MapQuest is for); dating (meet the love of your life online); and spelling/grammar (what happened to the English language anyway? how r u?).
All that doesn’t even take into consideration all the social media by products of the Internet i.e. mySpace, Facebook, Twitter, blogs, etc. Now I’m not saying we revert back to the way we were, but it is sure does bring to light just how much the “times they are a changin’.” (If you don’t recognize the lyrics, Google it!)
Anyway, you get the idea; can you come up with any others?
Seeing PINK – here, there and everywhere
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it seems like the whole world has gone pink – from clothing to computers; cookware to cereal boxes; to, well, just about anything. No inanimate object is immune to turning pink these days. But now, football?
Have you seen the games lately? NFL football players and teams are sporting pink on towels, patches, jerseys, caps, fields, and anything else they can think of. Even the referees are sporting pink wristbands to go along with their requisite stripes, and sports announcers are wearing pink ribbons on their lapels. This “pink” breast cancer awareness campaign knows no boundaries. And I mean that in the nicest way possible, and from a marketing perspective it’s definitely a “touchdown.”
Speaking of pink – I mean breast cancer – last year, over 200 Lynn staffers and students volunteered and helped to raise over $350,000 for the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” event. This year, the event is on Oct. 17 at Mizner Park, with our own Annie Weaver, student involvement coordinator, heading up the Volunteer Committee, and Chris Childers, our career center director, organizing the Lynn walking team, Lynn’s Knights Fighting Cancer. So, get in the pink and join them.
And though another American Cancer Society signature event – Relay for Life – is not until April, fundraisers and activities are held all year long leading up to the main event, starting this week and next with a Relay fundraiser at Uncle Julio’s Oct. 15 and the Kick Off event on campus Oct. 22 – when the “theme” will be revealed. I know what it is, but am not telling. You’ll just have to find out for yourself.
Civility an art lost on Rep. Wilson, Kanye West, Serena Williams – but not Lynn
When I heard that all freshmen were required to read the book, Choosing Civility, I thought it a rather interesting choice – but interesting in a good way. Civility almost sounds like an “old-fashioned” word, one you don’t often hear these days. But it is something we either take for granted or we notice the absence of it.
I’m part way through P.M. Forni’s book (all employees having received this very “civil” gift at the Welcome Back Breakfast), and it really does make you aware of just how many ways there are to “be nice;” how your behavior or misbehavior can affect someone either very positively or negatively. In these times of ever-growing advanced technology, the idea of being civil to your fellow man may seem simplistic, but it also seems like a lost art.
Reading the book I found myself having those “ah hah” moments: like a form of listening or non-listening he calls “disregard and proceed” – otherwise known as “it’s all about me;” or channeling your “inner designated driver” otherwise known as think before you speak, and so many other nuggets I’m sure I have yet to uncover.
“The decline of civility is a social phenomenon that is being discussed now with the frequency and intensity that was not there 10 years ago,” said Forni.
And it’s no wonder. Just recently, we witnessed 3 very public civility offenses: Rep. Joe Wilson’s outburst to Obama; Kanye West’s rude interruption of Taylor Swift, and Serena Williams’ temper tantrum. What great fodder for classroom discussion using our own increasingly non-civil world around us as perfect examples.
If I can quote from another blog on the subject (don’t know the etiquette on that one, so I will anyway), “Somewhere, Miss Manners is going into conniptions. It’s been a tough week for civility in America,” said Sun-Sentinel blogger Mike Mayo.
During our 2nd annual Civility Week starting today, let’s get back to basics – basic human kindness, that is. I heard that Forni is coming to campus March 16, and I do look forward to hearing what he has to say.
So, what does civility mean to you? Or what is your most “uncivil” pet peeve?
Lynn freshman – live at The Dubliner tomorrow
Lynn freshman and communication major – Makayla Duvall (a name that certainly has a pop star ring to it) – will be taking the stage at Mizner Park’s The Dubliner tomorrow night, Sept. 30 at 9:30 p.m. The aspiring singer / songwriter will be performing her debut single “Moving On” – listen to it now on her MySpace page – and other pop-rock cover songs by Colbie Caillat, Jason Mraz, Maroone 5, Taylor Swift and Kings of Leon.
A 2009 graduate of Boca Raton High School, Makayla has already been in the spotlight with an appearance on So You Want to be a Pop Star?. And like many aspiring artists today, she’s also tried American Idol. Makayla auditioned for Season 8 of American Idol in Jacksonville, Fla. last year. Singing “I’m Going Down” by Mary J. Blige, Makayla was in the top 50 out of 15,000 people who auditioned.
“I didn’t see Paula, Randy and Simon,” said Makayla. “I auditioned for the executive producers who said I had a great voice, good stage presence and a good look, but I wasn’t unique enough for the show.”
In case you can’t make it to The Dubliner tomorrow, Makayla will be performing at other local venues like Hurricanes in Delray Beach and the Wishing Well in Boca Raton in the coming months.
Hats off to a FANtastic FAN
Ever since our Lynn baseball team won the Div. II National Championship, we’ve had baseball on the brain. And the fact that it is baseball season certainly helps keep the spirit alive. Though I’m not a huge baseball fan, I have had a lot of fun this summer participating in a friendly rivalry with our resident “fish” and marketing GA, Christina. She’s a die-hard Marlins fan – and I do mean die-hard. I’m in the Phillies camp (mostly through boyfriend osmosis). So, as you can imagine, we do a lot of goading and chiding each other, especially when the teams play each other. But my (baseball) hat is off to Christina who truly is a devoted fan (she and her family are in those stands every home game!). And she even brought Little LU with her onto the field and introduced him to the actual Marlins players.
The Marlins players have yet another connection to Lynn when our national championship baseball team gets recognition from the team at Landshark Stadium when the Marlins host the Braves on Sept. 2. Starting today (Aug. 19) Lynn fans can purchase tickets for $20 (includes transportation) to attend this historic moment. And don’t forget, we’ll pull out all the stops to officially honor our team on National Championship Baseball Day at Lynn on Sept. 18.